Frame for light motorcycles or motor-bicycles



c. GILARDI v FRAME FOR LIGHT MOTORCYCLES OR MOTOR BICYCLES Filed April 22, 1950 I July 22, 195

5 Sheets-Sheet l v2'2, Tm c. GILARDI FRAME FOR-LIGHT MOTORCYCLES 0R MOTOR BICYCLES Filed April 22, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z m w? L #4. n nal M6,? A 0 03/ July 22, 1952 c. GILARDI' FRAME FOR LIGHT MOTORCYCLES .OR MOTOR, BICYCLES Filed April 22, 1950 s Sheets-Sheet s- 'IIIIIIIIIIIIIII'III'L 111,11,

Patented .luly 22, 1952 OFFICE FRAME FOR LIGHT MOTORCYCLES OR MOTOR-BICYCLES V Carlo Gilardi, Milan, Italy 1 Application April 22, 1950, Serial No. 157,463

In Italy March 31, 1950 j 5 Claims. (Cl. 180-35) 7 The. presentinvention relates to a frame for V a light motorcycle or a motor-bicycle, wherein the chain guard constitutes a carrying member of theiframe and is mounted to swing elastically on the hubof thepedal gear.

...According to the present invention, the frame is formed by two tube-structures rigidly united in the shape. of a V, one of which carries at its end thesaddle and the other the steering tube; these two-structures are hollow and in communication with each other so as to constitute a single tank for the fuel. I V t The lower end of the structure carrying the steering tube, contains a spring reacting on a cross-piece connecting a pair of structures of :v

, bourhood of their junction so as to swing elastically about'the hinge axis; moreover, the Spring,

.whichzis very near to the swinging centre of said pair of members, is subjected to a very small deformation although it allows for ample oscillations of the wheel and may be short enough,

' therefore, as to be contained in the end portion of the hollow member carrying the steering tube, the end support of the spring within said tube not preventing, anyhow, free communication of said hollow member with the other one carrying the saddle to form the single fuel tank.

This result is attained by utilizing the ruggedness of the rear fork due to its shape of a double chain guard, which enables it to stand the considerablestress of the spring which reacts at a v y short distance from the hinge. The aforementioned shape of the fork, besides protecting the transmission chain, also allows to hide the aforementioned spring, thus eliminatin the unpleasant appearance which the latterwould afford if not concealed; moreover, the pair of oscillatin members is thus strong enough to support the engine with no difiiculties in such a manner that it finds its place in the lowest possible posi- Fig. l is an elevation view from the left side of a motor-bicycle a frame according to the invention; I

Fig. 2 is a elevationiview fromthe right side of the same;

Fig, 3 is a vertical'longitudinal part section of theframe: y f I Fig. 4 is a section of Fig. 3 through the line I v I l Withreference toFig-ures l and 2, the frame is composed of-two tubular pieces I and 2, the second of which is butt-joined on the former near the lower end thereof so as to form a rigid V- shaped structure. The upper end of the piece I carries rotatably the steering post 3, which may be of any known kind, with a rigid or springsupported fork, while the saddle 4 is fixed to the upper end of the piece 2. The other two members constituting the frame are indicated with 5 and 6 they have the shape of a chain guard and support the axle I of the rear wheel. These members 5 and 6 are fastened to each other and the forward portion of the resulting assembly is swingably connected withthe hollow V-shaped member consisting of the members [and 2, the swing axis coinciding with the axis of crankshaft I2 as moreclearly visible in Figures 3 and 4.

With reference to Figure 3 of the drawing,

- the lower end of piece I carries a short bracket 8 which supports a sleeve 9. Said sleev contains the freely rotatable hub III, with the intermediary of antifriction metal bushes I I, The hub I0 is fixed to the two member-s5 andfi and constitutes the support. for the axle I2 of the pedal cranks I3. The member 6 constitutes the guard covering the transmission sprocket and chain, not represented in the drawing and is closed by a cover 6' (Fig. 2); the member 5 repeats in part the shape of member 6 as can be seen in Fig. l.

Both of thesemembers have a moment of resistance capable of standing. the bending moment caused by the reaction of the rear wheel. "In order to balance said bending moment, since the hub I0 is freely rotatable with respect to the memhers. I and 2, a spring I4 is provided, whichis partly contained within the end portion of the member I. The upper end of spring I4 rests on a plate I5 fixed within member I. Plate I5 is below the top of the connection between the members I and 2. The lower end of spring I4 rests against a transverse vmember I6 connected to members 5 and 6 and provided with a cylindrical projection I1, which prevents lateral displacement of the spring.

It can be seen that with the arrangement herepresent invention. However, it may: bee in 3 inbefore described, the interiors of the two members I and 2 can easily be made to communicate through a hole I8 provided in the member I in the zone where the latter is connected to the member 2. The interiors of members I and 2 are used as a fuel tank which can be filled through a filling hole I9, which may be provided at any other suitable position; for 'exa'mpl'e', under the saddle. The fuel is drawn from the lowest part of the tank through a hole 20 from which itis conveyed to the engine for example by way 0f pipe. s 1; {M

The engine is designated by reference num 2| in Figures 1 to 3 and is represented diagramf the matically, since its structure is not a part or terest that the members 5 and 6, because :01 he shape, have the necessary stiffness to supporth,

the engine M by means ofhangers 22 and 2'3,"the

former comprising a flexible member and the latter a bracket 23wwhose upper end is pivoted to the membercomposed of parts'fi and B'by pivot the member composed of plates 5 and 6. [The engine is thus in afixed position with respect to V r the rear wheel, though it is spring-supported with respect to the road-way together withthe remainder of the frame.- A cover 26 is provided over pivot 23', and the plates-supporting axle I2 and pivot 23 are provided with'holes 21; Moreover, as can. be easily seen-Lin the drawing, the spring I4, though'very short, allowsflor ample elastic oscillations of the part 'form'edb'y 2,604,179 :.j, Q V :1

being swingably connected with said V-shaped member to swing about the axis of said crankshaft, and a spring interposed between said frame members and extending partly into said V-shaped member at the junction of its legs.

2. A frame as set forth in claim 1, in which said v shaped member serves as a fuel tank, said for- "Ywa'rd" leg-being jsubstantiallytubular and having "a'lower'portionto which'saidrearward leg is laterally connected, an aperture in said lower *portion afiording communication of the interiors 5 of saidforward leg and of said rearward leg, and closure means in said lower portion disposed below said aperture and serving as an abutment 5 fo'i the upper end of said spring.

3 A frame as defined in claim 1, comprising iconnecting means for said frame members, said spring having a lower end resting against said connecting means.

4. A frame as defined in claim 1, said bracket means comprising a sleeve portion; a. tubular niem'ber rotatable in said sleeve'portion, extending 'co'a-xially of said crankshaft and transversely to said forward portion of -said frame members, and being rigidly connected thereto; and bearings for'said crankshaft supported by said tubu- -ly connected frame members forming a guard for inhibitedso that they maybe used as a fuel tank.

Numeral 2-4 designates a handle for liftingthe vehicle and numeral designates a rubber cushion which, bearing against the piece 8, prevents the pair of members 5 and E 'f'rom downward if the vehicle is lifted. I

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of mysaid invention and'i'n what manner the same is'to be performed, 1 declare that whatI claim is:

1. A frame fora light motorcycle'or mot i;

bicycle having a crankshaft, a steering post," a

saddle, a chain, and'a' rear wheel drivenby said chain, said' frame comprising a hollow V-shaped member. having a forward leg supporting said steering post, a rearward leg supporting said saddle, and'bracket means supporting said crankshaft and extending -from 'th'e'portion of said V- shaped member where its legs are united, a pair of rigidly'connec'ted frame members forming a guard for said chain and supporting'sai'd rear 7 wheel said frame members having a forward por- V tion' laterally shielding saidbracket meansand tilting said chain and supporting said rear wheel, said frame members having a forward portion laterally shielding said bracket means and being swingably connected with-saidV-sh'aped member to swingabout the axis of said crankshaft; a spring interposed between'said frame members and extending partly into said V-shaped member at the junction of itslegspsaid forwardportion ofsaid' frame members having an inside, and hangers connectedwith'said forward portion of said framemembers at the-inside thereof for suspending said engine;

w CARLOGILARDI. a I REFERENCES orrEn The following references are'of recordin the file of'tliis patent; f V

, UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 1 3 Name T Date 564,155 Millet .1 'July 14, 1896 698,234 Thompson" Feb-" 1, 1898 739,034 Travis Sept. '15, 1903 1,479,738 Pullin Jan-.1j1924 2,082,147 Bryant 1 Junel, 1 93? 2,446,731 Wheler Aug. 10, 1948 2; 49 7 6- 1 l nee. is, 1949 

